Chapter 35
“Sh, Hayden-love, it’s okay. You’re okay,” Jaxom whispered over and over.
He knew Hayden wasn’t reacting negatively to being under him.
Very much the opposite. He was clinging to Jaxom like he’d never let go, one leg locked firmly around his hip.
Hayden’s arms were wrapped around his back, pulling at him to get closer.
“Love you too, Hayden,” Drake whispered as he watched Hayden bury his face in the nape of Jaxom’s neck.
“You’re safe, Hayden-love. Is that what you’re feeling? Safe?” Jaxom asked.
“Yeah, never felt so safe, protected every time you cover me,” Hayden hiccuped as he spoke.
“So you like being held,” Jaxom chuckled. Relief at Hayden’s honesty was breezing through him.
“Love it,” Hayden sniffed. Drake got him a tissue.
“You do bloom under physical affection. I love that,” Drake said.
Jaxom propped himself up on an elbow to look down at Hayden. Drake leaned in and gave their mate gentle kisses until Hayden started laughing. Drake was very enthusiastic in peppering every inch of his face.
“How about we get you up,” Jaxom kissed Hayden’s cheek, “get cleaned up,” he kissed his nose, “eat breakfast,” kissed an eyebrow, “and then throw snowballs at Drake,” kisses to his throat as Hayden burst out in laughter.
“Just try to hit me,” Drake laughed as he got off the bed. He gave Jaxom a playful shove to get him off Hayden. “Mine. You clean up and finish breakfast. I’m hungry.”
The morning felt bright and new like the world was smiling down on them.
Jaxom kept close tabs on Hayden as Drake cared for him.
He hadn’t expected that kind of emotional release from the guy.
He’d felt Hayden’s love of being covered by Jaxom.
Now he knew how much deeper that need for being covered, feeling protected, went.
Hayden had gone from continuous hate to being loved in basically an instant. It was overwhelming to feel a mate slip in under the skin and fill in holes one didn’t know were there. If Jaxom had his way, he’d be covering Hayden, protecting him for the rest of his life.
Life wasn’t safe. Renz was pressing down on Jaxom but he was doing his best to keep that feeling of dread from his mates. He could feel their happiness in the moment and needed to keep it that way until his doom arrived. Loving on his guys was all that mattered right now. It was all he had to give.
“I was thinking of shifting after we finish eating,” Jaxom said to Hayden. “I know you can’t yet but you should see us. Just like I can’t wait to see you.”
“I did get a glimpse. I can’t wait to see you shift. It sucks I can’t yet but it’s not much longer. My wolf is anxious to see you.”
“Mine, too. Three months is too long. In the meantime, you can throw snowballs at Drake.” Jaxom gave Drake a saucy wink.
“You gotta catch me first,” Drake said as he stripped off his clothes and strutted to the door.
Jaxom was up and stripping, trying to get out the door to see his mate shift. Drake was standing on all fours in the middle of the yard, but he looked different. He wasn’t just charcoal gray anymore. His fur was tipped in black with a lighter charcoal gray at the base.
Are you guys seeing what I’m seeing? Drake asked through the mind-link.
Jaxom was beside him, running his hands through Drake’s fur. His mate was arching into his touch.
I’ve never heard of a wolf changing color when it got it’s mate, or in our case, mates. You’re gorgeous, handsome. You move and hints of gray come out like smoke rising from a campfire. How do you feel?
Stronger, faster, like I could battle all day and still come out on top. Drake’s hazel eyes looked at Jaxom. Shift, mate. Let’s see you.
Jaxom shifted but was somewhat disappointed. Still full on black. He didn’t know what he’d expected but felt in his bones that he was different. Marking and being marked by Hayden had changed him.
Hayden’s hands scrubbed through his fur. Tingles spread through his skin at his mate’s touch.
You’re two toned black. Come stand more in the sun. What do you think, Drake? Hayden said.
Jaxom moved into a bright patch of sun. He lifted a paw to get a better look at what Hayden was talking about.
See that? The bottom half is a touch lighter than the top half. Black on black, Hayden said.
Step in the shadow, Jax. Drake brushed up against him. Jaxom loved the feel of his fur brushing against his own. Jaxom gave a happy nip at Drake and trotted into the shadows of the trees.
Hayden was staring at him like he had two heads, “Okay. Come out, Jax.”
He obediently stepped forward into the sun only to have Drake tell him to go back into the shadows. Then he was told to step back out, again.
Go back in, Jaxom, Hayden said in growing excitement.
Hayden, go stand beside him and just rest your hand on his back, Drake said.
Tell me where he is and I will, Hayden said drolly.
Jaxom step out.
Why do I keep going in and out of the shadow? Jaxom asked.
Just one more time, Jax, Drake said.
Jaxom obediently stepped out and Hayden ran up to him, hand on his back. Okay, back in shadow one more time.
Jaxom obediently stepped back with Hayden at his side.
Holy shit, Drake said. Okay, my turn. Come back out, Jax.
You said this was the last time, Jaxom grouched. What’s going on?
One more time.
Fine.
Jaxom and Hayden came out into the sun. Drake immediately pushed in close to Jaxom. One more time in shadow, Jax.
Fine, Jaxom said indulgently and walked back into the shadows of the trees with Drake pressed up against him.
Can you see us, Hayden? Drake asked.
All I see is shadow, Hayden yelled and pumped his fist in the air.
What do you mean? Jaxom asked.
We can’t see you in shadows. You blend in. Hayden disappeared when he was touching you, Drake said.
Fucking awesome. I can’t see either of you unless… Drake, step away from Jaxom, Hayden’s eyes got huge. I can’t see you as a wolf but you look like smoke in the form of a wolf in shadow. If that makes sense.
You do! Jaxom looked at his mate. Hayden, come touch Drake.
Hayden sprinted over and placed a hand on Drake’s back.
Smoke, both of you, Jaxom said in awe. Hayden, put your hand on me. Do you have to walk into shadow with me? Or, is touching me enough?
Can’t see you, shadow, Hayden snickered.
Jaxom brushed up against Hayden and Drake howled as Hayden disappeared. Other members of the pack answered him. They heard the joy in his voice echoing against the hills.
You’ll be one sneaky bastard in the dark, Jax, Drake said.
Jaxom? Alpha Steven mind-linked the triad. Renz will be here in three hours. He’s called an assembly. Need you all home. Sorry about that.
Fuck, Drake said.
Thanks, dad. We’ll be there in an hour. Jaxom felt like his heart was going to fall out of his chest, but he held it back.
He shifted back to human. “Looks like we got interrupted. We’ll come back and test this out some more.
The Moon Goddess did say we’d see the effects of following prophecy. Wonder what you’ll look like, Hayden.”
“Maybe we skip the gathering,” Hayden said as he shrugged off speculating about his wolf form.
“Wish we could, Hayden-love,” Drake said as he walked in the cabin to get dressed.
Jaxom sucked in a deep breath. He took his necklace off and left it in the box. A promise to himself that he’d wear it again.
Fucking Renz.